breastplate

human history

six plates of whale tooth ivory form border, four pieces of whale ivory inlaid with pearl shell including two birds and two stars. illustrated in 'Polynesian Artifacts' pl. 61, also in 'The Art of Melanesia', QEII Arts Council.

Nama tāpiringa: 1950.128 Whakahounga o Mua: 30 Sept 2026

Ingoa Kē

civa

breastplate

Wāhi

Fiji

Accession Number

1950.128

Rā Tāpiringa

04 Jul 1950

Tohu Tuakiri Kē

31498 (ethnology)

523 (Oldman Collection)

Wāhanga

Pacific

Kuputuhi e Wātea Tūmatanui ana

These civavonovono, said to have been made by Tongan and Samoan craftsmen for Fijian chiefs, have evolved from the large whalebone breastplates seen in Tonga by James Cook and his company. Worn suspended from the neck, a cord also ran across the back of the breastplate so they could be held rigid against the body during dancing and in combat. As a lone ornament, civa, or polished pearl shell, symbolised chiefly status. And in the 1800s its symbolism was enhanced when whales’ teeth plates were attached to encase the pearl shell.

breastplate

breastplate

Mātātuhi me ngā tuhinga

Mātātuhi (9)

Taonga

Shared Data

breastplate

breastplate

Mātātuhi me ngā tuhinga

Mātātuhi (9)

Taonga

Shared Data

Ngā tūemi whai hononga